Dunboyne must visit lion’s den

IT’S a measure of how far ladies football has come that Dunboyne’s All- Ireland senior club semi- final encounter with Mourneabbey tomorrow is the game of the weekend for many.

There are no end of plotlines here, the first of them that the game is fixed for Mourneabbey’s own backyard, with Dunboyne going into the lion’s den.

Then you have some of the top players in the country squaring off.

A raft of these were involved as Meath came from seven points down in the dying moments of last year’s All- Ireland semi- final to level the game before storming clear in extra- time.

They backed it up by going on to win the Brendan Martin Cup against Dublin.

Dunboyne have Meath’s two deadliest forwards in their ranks in Vikki Wall (right), who has captured the imagination of the public with her all- action style and the classy Emma Duggan.

Mourneabbey don’t exactly lack quality, with the O’Sullivan sisters, Ciara and Doireann, topping the bill, and Laura Fitzgerald looking for a hat- trick of hat- tricks after two three- goal hauls in the Munster series.

Cork will be keen to burst Meath’s bubble as the Royal county continues to ride the crest of a wave following their shock All- Ireland success last year.

Dunboyne have already beaten Dublin and Leinster giants, Foxrock- Cabinteely, but Mourneabbey, managed by Cork boss Shane Ronayne, are chasing an All- Ireland three- in- a- row.

Elsewhere, holders Kilcoo are chasing a second Ulster title against Derrygonnelly, who could go down in history if they get over the line at the Athletic Grounds tomorrow.

No Fermanagh side has won a senior title at club or county level.

In Munster football, it’s a clash of two clubs with storied histories, Austin Stacks (Kerry) and St Finbarr’s (Cork).

Stacks have two Munster titles, their last one coming in 2014, while Finbarr’s have three, but have to go back to 1986 for their last one.

There are also a raft of football and hurling games in the pre- season provincial competitions across the weekend.

The pick of these in football is Armagh’s visit to Healy Park to play All- Ireland champions, Tyrone, who were jolted by their 1-17 to

0- 5 hammering by

Cavan during the week.

Tyrone weren’t long off the plane though following a team holiday in Orlando.

In hurling Kerry, fresh from their first ever win over Tipperary, face AllIreland champions, Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds.

Kerry hurling is on a high after Kilmoyley recently became the first club from the county to win an Munster intermediate championship. THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES

TODAY

O’Byrne Cup SF Longford v Dublin, Pearse Park, 2pm Louth v Offaly, Ardee, 2pm

Laois v Wicklow, Crettyard, 2pm

Meath v Wexford, Ashbourne, 5pm

Westmeath v Carlow, Lakepoint Park - game off

Dr McKenna Cup SF Antrim v Donegal, Portglenone, 1.30pm

Tyrone v Armagh, Healy Park, 1.30pm

Fermanagh v Derry, Roslea, 1.30pm

TOMORROW

Ulster Club SFC

Final Derrygonnelly Harps (Fermanagh) v Kilcoo (Down), Athletic Grounds, 3.45pm, TG4

Munster

Club final

Austin Stacks (Kerry) v St Finbarr’s (Cork), Semple Stadium, 1.45pm, TG4

All - Ireland Ladies

Club SFC Semi- finals Mourneabbey (Cork) v Dunboyne (Meath); Mourneabbey Community Centre, 1pm

Kilkerrin- Clonberne (Galway) v Donaghmoyne (Monaghan); KilkerrinClonberne GAA, 1pm

Munster Hurling

Semi- final Limerick v Kerry, TUS Gaelic Grounds, 2pm Walsh Cup SH

Dublin v Galway, Parnell Park, 2pm

Offaly v Antrim, O’Connor Park, 2pm

Kilkenny v Laois, Callan, 2pm

SFC

Cup

Kehoe Cup SH Carlow v Kildare, Netwatch Cullen Park, 2pm

Meath v Westmeath, Dunganny, Noon